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2001-02 News Archive
WOLVES SIGN BERTHOLD'S BIG BOMBER April 17, 2002
ABERDEEN, S.D. - Berthold, N.D., standout Adam Grant has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend and play basketball at Northern State University. That announcement was made today by NSU head coach Don Meyer. Grant is a 6-foot-7, 210 pound forward for Berthold High School. A second-team all-state selection as a junior, Grant averaged 26 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He also nearly averaged a double-double as a senior, putting up 20 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Grant shined in his final postseason, leading the Bombers to a second-place finish and earning all-tournament honors at the state tournament. During his career, the three-time team MVP and two-time all-conference selection put up 1,693 points. Grant is also a two-time team MVP and all-conference pick in football, and earned all-state honors as a tight end. "Our team centered around Adam," BHS basketball coach Jason Schwarz said. "He was our best scorer, our best shooter inside and outside, our best ball handler and our best defender. This year we had more guys around him, which made our team effort better. "I think Adam has the potential to become a standout at (the collegiate) level. He really competes, and hopefully his greatest growth is still in front of him. I think having more competition will bring out more in him. He is one of the toughest and grittiest kids I've been around and he doesn't like to lose. Going to a higher level is really going to do him a lot of good," Schwarz said. Grant is the sixth recruit of the off-season for a Wolves program that will lose five seniors to graduation. Here are Northern's other recruits:
NSU head coach Don Meyer thinks Grant rounds out the 2002 recruiting class in style. "Grant is such a competitor. He plays the game with a lot of heart and intensity," Meyer said. "He is very skilled for a young man of his size and has the ability to make plays either by posting up or facing the basket. We are very excited he has chosen Northern State." Northern State University competes under the NCAA II affiliation in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Last season, the Wolves finished 20-8 overall and were crowned co-conference champions. Meyer was named NSIC Coach of the Year, while the team's senior post (Brad Hansen, Tea, S.D.) earned league MVP honors. -- 30 --
WOLVES ADD FOUR ON NATIONAL SIGNING DAY April 10, 2002 ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Northern State University men's basketball program has signed four high school standouts to National Letters of Intent. That announcement was made today by head coach Don Meyer. Two of the recruits are from South Dakota, while the other two hail from Minnesota. Here are the new additions:
The new recruits join early signee and South Dakota all-stater Tyler Lee (6-3 guard, Roslyn, S.D.) to expand NSU's recruiting class to five.
Busack is a member of the Minnesota Mr. Basketball 2002 all-State senior team and was an all-state tournament team selection. The four-year letterwinner, three-time all-conference player and two-time team MVP for Redwood Valley High school scored over 1,700 points and grabbed over 700 rebounds during his career. As a senior, he averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, helping lead his team to a third-place finish at the state 2A tournament. Busack is also an all-conference performer in tennis, an honor roll student and is a member of the National Honors Society. "Aaron has a great ability to score," Meyer said. "For a big man he has tremendous hands and shooting touch. He has good range beyond the arc and can score well inside the post. He will help us fill the void left with the departure of (seniors) Brad (Hansen) and Andy (Foster)."
Hammer is a two-time first-team all-state selection for Elkton High School. As a senior, Hammer averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game and earned MVP honors in both the Dakota Valley Conference and Eastern Dakota Conference. A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter, he scored over 1,700 points during his career and is a three-time DVC and EDC performer. Hammer was also an all-state selection and 9AA player of the year in football for Elkton. "Matt can be a very explosive guard," Meyer said. "He can see the floor very well and attack the rim off the dribble. His size and athleticism make him an effective defender and rebounder. We expect him to have a tremendous impact on our program."
Kuehn is a first-team all-state performer for Watertown High School. The 6-foot-7 center is also a two-time all-conference performer throughout his career. As a senior, he also made the all-state tournament team and was his team's MVP, putting up 15 points and nine rebounds per game. In addition to basketball, Kuehn was also a first-team all-state selection in football as a senior and helped his team to the state championship. "Eric is intriguing because of how athletic he is for a young man his size," Meyer said. "He can run, jump, and catch very well for a post player. We are excited about his potential and feel he can become a great player in our program."
Plaas helped Red Wing High School to three section championships and was an all-state tournament team selection as a senior. The two-time all-conference selection also earned all-state honorable mention laurels as a junior. As a senior, he averaged over 12 points and seven rebounds per game. Plaas was also the starting quarterback on an RWHS football team that took second in state 3A in 2001, and is a track and field letterwinner. "Taite will be a versatile player in our program," Meyer said. "With his size and athleticism, he will be able to play facing the basket as well as bang around inside to score and rebound. Taite has all the intangibles you look for in a player and we're extremely excited to have him in our program." Northern State University competes under the NCAA Division II affiliation. Last season, the Wolves finished 20-8 overall and earned the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship for the sixth time in the past eight years. Head coach Don Meyer earned conference coach of the year honors, while senior Brad Hansen earned league MVP honors. -- 30 --
HANSEN EARNS ALL-AMERICAN HONORABLE MENTION LAURELS April 3, 2002
ABERDEEN, S.D. - Senior post Brad Hansen (Tea) is an honorable mention pick on the 2002 Division II Bulletin All-American team. Hansen earned the NSIC's Most Valuable Player award this season, as well as second-team all North Central Region honors by both the NABC and Daktronics. The Lennox High School product was the NSIC's most dominant force in the paint in 2001-02. During the conference season, Hansen ranked first in league blocks, second in field goal percentage, fourth in scoring and sixth in rebounding. He ended the year averaging 16 points (on 61 percent shooting), 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. On the national scale, Hansen ranked 12th in all of NCAA II for field goal percentage and 22nd in blocks. He helped the Wolves to a 20-8 record and a share of the 2001-02 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season championship.
HONORS
KEEP POURING IN FOR WICKS, HANSEN
March 11, 2002 Senior post Brad Hansen (Tea) and junior forward Sundance Wicks (Gillette, Wyo.) earned 2002 NABC/Pontiac all-North Central Region second-team honors today. That announcement was made today by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The North Central Region consists of three NCAA Division II conferences: the Northern Sun Intercollegiate, the North Central and the Rocky Mountain Athletic. Hansen earned the NSIC's Most Valuable Player award this season, as well as second-team all-region honors from Daktronics as chosen by CoSIDA. The Lennox High School product was the NSIC's most dominant force in the paint in 2001-02. During the conference season, Hansen ranked first in league blocks, second in field goal percentage, fourth in scoring and sixth in rebounding. He ended the year averaging 16 points (on 61 percent shooting), 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Hansen was also ranked nationally all season in blocks and field goal percentage. Wicks was arguably the most versatile player in the NSIC this season. A 2002 first-team all-conference pick with Hansen, Wicks also earned 2002 NSIC all-Tournament team honors. Aside from ending the season ranked fourth nationally in field goal percentage, Wicks was among the NSIC's leaders in a host of other categories. The Campbell County High School product ranked first in league 3-point percentage, third in assists, fourth in rebounding, sixth in field goal percentage and 11th in steals. Wicks ended the season averaging 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on 53 percent shooting from the field including 47 percent from 3-point range. As a freshman, Wicks earned the NSIC's 1999-00 Newcomer of the Year award, and as a sophomore he earned 2000-01 all-NSIC honorable mention laurels. As a tandem, Hansen and Wicks helped the Wolves to their first NSIC Championship since the 1998-99 season. NSU finished 20-8 overall and 14-4 in the NSIC, sharing the conference crown with Minnesota-Duluth. Here is full the NABC/Pontiac all-North Central Region team: First Team: Jerome Beasley, North Dakota; Denver TenBroek, North Dakota State; Nick Suehla, Nebraska-Kearney; Matt Jones, South Dakota State; Austin Hansen, South Dakota State. Second Team: Brad Hansen, Northern State; Sundance Wicks, Northern State; Jason Schneeweis, Minnesota-Duluth; Forrest Witt, St. Cloud State; Jermaine Brown, MSU-Mankato.
HANSEN
EARNS DAKTRONICS March 7, 2002
Senior post Brad Hansen (Tea) is a 2002 Daktronics North Central Region second-team pick as selected by CoSIDA. That announcement was made today by Daktronics. The North Central Region consists of three NCAA Division II conferences: the Northern Sun Intercollegiate, the North Central, and the Rocky Mountain Athletic. Hansen earned the NSIC's Most Valuable Player award this season. The Tea, S.D., and Lennox High School product was the NSIC's most dominant force in the paint in 2001-02. During the conference season, Hansen ranked first in league blocks, second in field goal percentage, fourth in scoring and sixth in rebounding. He ended the year averaging 16 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Hansen also finished the season ranked nationally in both blocks and field goal percentage. Hansen is NSU's second NCAA II all-region pick. In 1998, NSU's Ryan Miller was a first-team all-region selection. Here is the full Daktronics all-North Central Region team: FIRST TEAM: Jerome Beasley, North Dakota; Nick Svehla, Nebraska-Kearney; Jermaine Brown, MSU-Mankato; Kevin Fletcher, Colorado-Colorado Springs; Denver TenBroek, North Dakota State. SECOND TEAM: Brad Hansen, Northern State; Jacob Fahl, Southwest State; Austin Hansen, South Dakota State; Patrick Mutombo, Metro State; Forrest Witt, St. Cloud State.
WICKS
EARNS ALL-NSIC TOURNAMENT HONORS March 3, 2002
Junior forward Sundance Wicks (Gillette, Wyo.), earned 2002 all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament honors. That announcement was made by the league yesterday. Wicks led the Wolves with 14 points and eight rebounds in Northern's 70-77 loss to Southwest State in NSIC semifinal play Saturday. The 2002 first-team all-NSIC pick was also the league's newcomer of the year in 1999-00 and an all-NSIC honorable mention pick as a sophomore in 2000-01. Wicks helped the Wolves to their first league championship since the 1998-99 season.
HANSEN
NAMED NSIC MVP, Feb. 28, 2002 For the complete conference release, see the NSIC's website at www.northernsun.org.
HANSEN EARNS 2002 NSIC MOST VALUABLE PLAYER HONORS — Northern senior post Brad Hansen is the 2002 NSIC Most Valuable Player. That announcement was made today by the NSIC. Hansen, a native of Tea, S.D. and Lennox High School product, was the most dominant force in the paint this season. During the conference season, Hansen ranked first in blocks, second in field goal percentage, fourth in scoring and sixth in rebounding. He has also been ranked nationally in blocks and field goal percentage all season. Hansen is Northern’s first conference MVP since the 1997-98 season, when Ryan Miller earned the honor as a senior. He is NSU’s seventh conference MVP.
MEYER IS 2002 NSIC COACH OF THE YEAR — Northern coach Don Meyer earned 2002 NSIC Coach of the Year honors. That announcement was made today by the NSIC. In just his third year at the helm, Meyer led the Wolves back to the top of the NSIC. Northern won the 2002 regular season championship and is the top seed in the conference tournament to be played out this weekend. This is the seventh time an NSU coach has earned NSIC COY honors.
HANSEN, WICKS HEADLINE ALL-NSIC FIRST TEAM — Northern all-region candidates Brad Hansen (Tea) and Sundance Wicks (Gillette, Wyo.) earned 2002 first-team all-NSIC honors. That announcement was made today by the NSIC. Both players earned NSIC honorable mention honors last season. Wicks was also named NSIC Newcomer of the year for the 1999-2000 season. During the conference season, Hansen ranked first in blocks, second in field goal percentage, fourth in scoring and sixth in rebounding. He has also been ranked nationally in blocks and field goal percentage all season. Wicks is ranked fourth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage, while leadin the NSIC in that category. Wicks also ranks fourth in league rebounding, third in assists and seventh in field goal percentage.
WOLVES EARN TOP SEED IN 2002 NORTHERN SUN INTERCOLLEGIATE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT Feb. 24, 2002 Northern State will be the No. 1 seed in the 2002 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament. That announcement was made by NSIC league officials today. The Wolves will host No. 8 seed Minnesota-Morris Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 PM in NSU's Barnett Center. The winner of the game will move onto the semifinal round held at neutral site Concordia-St. Paul. The Wolves share the NSIC regular season championship with Minnesota-Duluth, but beat the Bulldogs on tiebreaker to claim the top seed. The winner of the NSIC Tournament earns an automatic berth in the North Central Regional. Here are the complete seedings for the first round of the NSIC Tournament and some notes on NSU's first-round tournament game: MEN Wednesday,
Feb. 27 TICKETS FOR NSU'S FIRST-ROUND GAMES -- Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and $2 for students. Since the tournament is an NSIC event, no Wolves Club passes or student ID's can be accepted for admission. Wolves Club members wanting to reserve their seats for the games can purchase advance tickets at the Barnett Center ticket window Feb. 25 and 26 (Monday and Tuesday) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The basketball games will be the last at Northern this season. First-round winners advance to the tournament semifinals. Semifinal and tournament championship games will take place March 2-3 at Concordia-St. Paul. The winner of the NSIC Tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA II North Central Region Tournament. LUST CHEVROLET SLAM-DUNK CONTEST PLANNED FOR FEB. 27 - A cast of high-flying Northern State students will compete in the Lust Chevrolet Slam-Dunk Contest during halftime of Northern’s first-round playoff game Wednesday, Feb. 27. The students will be competing for a $100 gift certificate from the University Bookstore, not to mention invaluable bragging rights on campus. 2002 NSIC Final Standings
HANSEN EARNS NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS FOR SECOND TIME IN THREE WEEKS Jan. 28, 2002
Senior post Brad Hansen (Tea) earned his second Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week honor in three weeks for his performances in NSU’s road wins at Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul. Jan. 25-26. Hansen scored a career-high 33 points on 9-of-11 shooting (81.8 percent) and went 15-of-20 (75.0 percent) from the free throw line to lead the Wolves to an 80-77 win at Concordia-Saint Paul on Saturday. Hansen also grabbed 12 rebounds and turned away five CSP shots. For the weekend, he was 15-of-24 from the field (62.5 percent), averaged 24.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.0 steal per game.
PRUE OUT FOR SEASON FOLLOWING EMERGENCY APPENDECTOMY January 22, 2002
The Northern State University men's basketball program announced today that true freshman guard DJ Prue (Pierre, S.D.) will not return to the court this season. Prue underwent an emergency appendectomy Jan. 1 and has been in the hospital recovering ever since. "We're going to miss him flying around the court and disrupting teams defensively," NSU head coach Don Meyer said. "The way he approaches the game rubs off on our guys and he practices even harder than he plays." But Prue's current physical condition, which Meyer considers worse than his own last August after he underwent a five-bypass heart surgery, puts the game of basketball in perspective. "There's no way anyone in his condition could be focusing on anything but trying to get back healthy; he's already lost 30 pounds since checking into the hospital," Meyer said. "As a team we want to do everything we can to support his getting healthy and functioning normally again." Prue was an all-state performer for Pierre High School last season and played in nearly every game as a true freshman for the Wolves this season before the surgery.
RED-HOT
HANSEN EARNS Jan. 14, 2002
Senior center Brad Hansen (Tea) earned Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week honors Monday for his performances at Minnesota-Duluth Jan. 12 and Bemidji State Jan. 13. Hansen averaged 27 points on 75 percent shooting (21-of-28) for the weekend, helping NSU to a split (72-79 loss at UMD; 93-69 win at Bemidji State). Hansen also averaged six rebounds and one block per contest on the weekend. In his past three games, Hansen has scored 84 points. On the season, he is among the national leaders in blocks (21st) and field goal percentage (29th).
WICKS STRIKES AGAIN WITH NSIC POW HONOR Dec. 31, 2001
For the second time in three weeks, NSU junior forward Sundance Wicks (Gillette, Wyo.) was named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the week. The latest honor came after Wicks led Northern to road victories at Wayne State (Neb.) and Southwest State Dec. 29 and 30. Wicks notched career-highs with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 77-67 road win over Wayne State on Saturday. Sunday, Wicks recorded 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds in NSU’s road victory over defending conference champion Southwest State (72-62). For the two games, Wicks averaged 21.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting a wacky 61.5 percent (16-26) from the field (including 5-of-9 from three-point range for 55.6%) and 83.3 percent (5-6) from the free throw line.
WICKS EARNS NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS Dec. 17, 2001
Northern State junior forward Sundance Wicks (Gillette, Wyo.) earned Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week honors for leading the Wolves to an 80-65 win over North Dakota Dec. 15. Wicks scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists while holding UND top perimeter threat Jeff Brandt to just four points. The win was NSU's fourth straight and the team's first over a North Central Conference team this season.
REED OUT WITH BROKEN FOOT Nov. 27, 2001
Northern State will have to do without senior starting power forward Houston Reed for four to six weeks. Reed, who was averaging 10.2 points and 4 rebounds per game through four games, broke his left foot in the North Dakota State game Nov. 25. Reed transferred to NSU last season from Otero Junior College in Colorado and played in all 27 games. The Olathe, Colo., native was a first-team all-region performer at Otero.
WOLVES SIGN ROSLYN STANDOUT TYLER LEE Nov. 15, 2001
ABERDEEN, S.D. - Northern State University men's basketball coach Don Meyer announced today the signing of Roslyn High School standout Tyler Lee to a National Letter of Intent. Entering his senior season in basketball, the 6-foot-3 Lee is already a three-time all-conference and three-time Aberdeen American News All-Area team member. As a junior, Lee nearly averaged a triple double, putting up 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists per game. He shot 81 percent from the line and 47 percent from the field last season, earning all-state and all-state tournament team honors in helping the Vikings to their second straight state tournament appearance. Lee began his senior athletic season in style, leading Roslyn to a state championship in football and being named the Joe Robbie MVP of the state championship game. He also earned all-state honors at quarterback. Now as the scene shifts to Roslyn basketball, Lee is excited to have his college decision finalized and to have signed on at Northern. "I am looking forward to being a part of NSU basketball, playing with the guys and playing for coach Don Meyer." Lee said. Coach Meyer is thrilled to have Lee join the program. "Tyler is a hard worker and a gifted athlete," Meyer said. "What will make him a great basketball player at the collegiate level is his desire to learn the game and to be part of a team. He is a great addition to Northern basketball." Tyler is the son of Tom and Debbie Lee. Tom coaches his son's high school basketball team. "Tyler has been blessed with a lot of God-given ability, but he's also taken that ability and worked extremely hard to improve himself," Tom said. "That's why he's at the level he's at today." -- 30 --
THIRD ANNUAL HALLOWEEN HOUSE OF HOOPS A BIG HIT Oct. 28, 2001
Northern's men's and women's basketball programs, in cooperation with McDonald's, hosted the third annual NSU Halloween House of Hoops Sunday night at the Barnett Center. The women's basketball team held a 3-point shooting contest, while the men's team dressed up in their Halloween costumes and greeted the over 200 children in attendance. Both teams ended the night by forming a tremendous trick-or-treating line for the children to go through with their McDonald's candy buckets.
Oct. 15, 2001
Northern State's men's basketball program began practice Monday in Wachs Arena. With a senior class of five, the Wolves hope to improve on their 14-13 record from last season. See prospectus for a quick season preview. Head coach Don Meyer, who underwent five-bypass heart surgery during the offseason, took a lower-key role but still got around and instructed players on drills.
The Wolves will have an exhibition game against Tharaldson's Nov. 3 at 7:30. Before that game, the women's program will have their annual Maroon/Gold Scrimmage at 5:30 p.m. NSU will then take on Division I Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. to complete the exhibition season. NSU's regular season opener is at home against Jamestown College Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
"I'm very similar in style to Coach Meyer," Summitt said. I respected him immediately and throught the years we've built a mutual respect and lasting friendship." What makes Meyer special, Summitt said, is not only his love and knowledge of the game, but his willingness to share what he knows. "He has just so much knowledge, it's unbelievable," Summitt said in and interview with the Aberdeen American News. "I've robbed that guy blind with all that I took from him. I think the beauty of it is to have someone that's willing to share. I don't know anyone in our profession that shares more than Coach Meyer." So Summitt, who has been a speaker at Meyer's Academy in Nashville in the past, was more than happy to act in kind, coming to South Dakota for the first time in her life to speak at Meyer's first coaching academy in Aberdeen. She said the Hub City reminded her of where she grew up in Middle Tennessee. "The area is beautiful and green," Summitt said. "And the people are very genuine." Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., in 2000, Summitt was also a member of the inaugural class in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. At just 49 years of age, Summitt has already had an unparalleled coaching career, which has many calling her a "living legend." Few would argue after considering what she has accomplished. In all of men's and women's collegiate basketball history, Summitt trails only UCLA's legendary coach John Wooden for the most NCAA titles. Wooden earned 10 titles in 29 years, while Summitt has picked up six in 27 complete seasons. Summitt is tied with Wooden for most NCAA Final Four appearances with 12. Her 71-14 NCAA Tournament record is the best in history. Summitt's Lady Vols dominated the 1990's, winning four NCAA national championships (1991, 1996, 1997, 1998) and becoming the first-ever NCAA women's program to earn back-to-back-to-back titles. Her 1997-98 squad was the definition of perfection, running the table at 39-0 en route to the national title. Her program earned ESPN's "Team of the Decade" award.
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